DOWNLOAD: “The Sound Of People Burning” – Brainstorm (prod. by 14KT)
Click to download the track.
Brain with something particularly brutal for your Friday the 13th. Enjoy. If you dare…
DOWNLOAD: Swisher Nights – Rebel (prod. by Vitamin D)
Click album cover to download.
Vitamin D makes harder beats than anyone in the SEA, that’s just a fact. Up-and-coming MC Rebel nabs five of ‘em here, the highlight of which is “Light Up (Shit You Like)” featuring Cole of Brothers From Another (who also show up in unison on “Outta Yo Mind”) and Antbeezy (delivering a rewind-worthy double-time verse). Aside from his tight-knit connection to Vita, Rebel has a lot going for him including a diverse flow and above-average technical skills. Definitely worth keeping your ears open for.
DOWNLOAD: “For The Birds” – Kingdom Crumbs (prod. by Tay Sean)
Click image to download.
“For The Birds,” the latest drop from Cloud Nice formation Kingdom Crumbs, “explores the possibility of flight and astral travel.” So yeah, watch the skies, fam.
VIDEO: “Frank Hirata” – La
From his Ocean Howell EP (in collabo with producer Olee), La’s newest video is simple, straightforward and unassuming — the exact opposite of dude’s raps. Find out why he’s one of Seattle’s best below.
DOWNLOAD: Toy In The Cereal Box – Saturday Morning Cartoon
Click album cover to download.
Saturday Morning Cartoon (Nitro Fresh and Jonnie Storm) reached far and wide for this remix album. 23 artists from 13 different countries contributed to Toy In The Cereal Box, a compilation assembled using vocal tracks from SMC’s debut, Cereal Box Superheroes, which you can grab here.
NEW MUSIC: Detroit Revolution(s) – Clear Soul Forces
Click album cover to download.
I often reserve Fridays for posting music not related to my hometown of Seattle, WA. So here’s what’s got me bubbling today:
Detroit upstarts Clear Soul Forces released their official official debut album a couple of weeks ago. Detroit Revolution(s) is the quartet’s refined, polished full-length collection that best highlights the miraculous lyrical achievements of Wimpy, J-Roc, E-Fav, and Ilajade. I first caught wind of this crew here and then said more about ‘em here.
CSF is light years ahead of other similarly-aged crews, at least from a technical skills standpoint. Their flows dip, dive, swerve, and veer with ease like a Ducati on the 520 bridge. Lyrical substance-wise, Detroit Revolution(s) elicits a mere “Meh.” Most of the tracks are reserved for rapping about rapping and getting their weight up in “the game.” But what a display of lyricism! If you’re looking for something fresh and shiny to rock to this weekend, I wouldn’t look any further than this.
DOWNLOAD: “Rocky IV” – Brainstorm
Click image to download.
The swag maestro of the Dyme Def camp Brainstorm with a new drop. Two new albums coming soon says Brain: Errythang Gang in August and The Celestine Prophecy 2 in October. Stay tuned YUK heads.
VIDEO: “Lemonade” – Fly Moon Royalty (dir. by The Note)
Sportn’ Life Records’ hip-hop/R&B/soul/electro/funk duo Fly Moon Royalty with their latest video, “Lemonade.” You can buy their self-titled album below and download the single for free.
VIDEO: “Interlude” – Peta Tosh (dir. by Detooz Films)
I don’t know much about Peta Tosh, a local MC who appears to be hustling hard (based on the number of press emails I get from his camp anyway). He enlisted local video veteran Detooz Films for this clip, “Interlude,” a track available on the artist’s last EP, Different (get that below). A little Twitter told me a new ‘tape from the MC is coming soon called The Take Off Part 2, so if you dig his style watch for that.
DOWNLOAD: Sessions: 5 Mixtape – Lake House Entertainment
Click album cover to download.
New (kinda) ‘tape from Lake House Entertainment. Click here to go swimming.
DOWNLOAD: The Only Forgotten Son – Fatal Lucciauno
Click album cover to download.
Goods news for fans of Sportn’ Life lead dog Fatal Lucciauno: his 2007 SnL debut, The Only Forgotten Son, is available free of monetary encumbrances for a short five days only. Click here, above or below to grab it now. And go here to read what 206UP.COM had to say about his recent album, Respect.
VIDEO: “I’m Bout That” – Avatar Young Blaze (feat. AK)
New clip from Chopper District representative Avatar Young Blaze. “I’m Bout That” features AK, with production by V Don. It’s off his latest — and in my opinion best — mixtape, The Humble Villain. Download that for free here.
DOWNLOAD: “Champagne & Caviar” – Notion (feat. Grynch & Luck-One)
Click image to download.
New drop from Notion and frequent production collaborator MTK, with some help from Pac NW neighbors Grynch and Luck-One.
DOWNLOAD: “Attention!” – DJ Phinisey (feat. John Crown)
Click image to download.
New joint from South Sound stalwarts DJ Phinisey and MC John Crown. #AromaOfTacoma
DOWNLOAD: The Mile Fly Club – The Mile Fly Club
Click album cover to D/L.
The Mile Fly Club is Young Goonie, Toon One, AaR, and Mac Shine, a local crew with more personality and ability than your average blunted swag rap posse. Their self-titled debut album doesn’t dwell any deeper than what you’ve come to expect from similarly-minded groups, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it.
From the easy jazz haze of “The Grind” and “I Just Wanna Ball” to the cloud-rap steez of “Heels” (which directly bites Clams Casino’s “Bass” instrumental), TMFC displays able mic skills and adept — albeit shallow — wordplay. It’s all entertaining in the moment, but if this quartet hopes to make further in-roads locally they’ll have to move beyond the cursory rap archetypes they adopt here, something they clearly have the chops to do. Stay tuned.
THE TRACKMEET: 3.16.12
CLICK :: LISTEN :: VOTE
Hopeful rappers from The Six are at it again in 2012: swamping the 206UP.COM inbox with requests to be put on. The TrackMeet is here again to meet your needs. Dream big and win one of ‘em and find everlasting esteem in the form of the next TrackMeet Mixtape (download last year’s version for free, here). Lose and suffer eternal tedium in nine-to-five purgatory until you die. Your future depends on this moment. No pressure.
LANE 1: “In The Winter” – Ashtin Mott
LANE 2: “Hello World” – J-Key
LANE 3: “Gotta Have Love” – Jay Walker
DOWNLOAD: “Pick Both Sides Of My Brain” – Kingdom Crumbs
Click image to download.
Kingdom Crumbs is the latest incarnation composed of members from the extensive Cloud Nice family tree. KC is: Tay Sean, Jarv Dee, Mikey Nice, and Jerm. The track is “Pick Both Sides Of My Brain” A little more knowledge for your brizzain:
Kingdom Crumbs is a new band comprised of four members … The music created is hip-hop, although the approach is highly experimental, drawing from various forms, be it tribal chants, psychedelic rock, or electro. The group hails from Seattle, WA, a city now widely recognized for its unique brand of avant garde hip-hop.
DOWNLOAD: “Unfazed” – State Of The Artist (prod. by Aaron The King)
Click image to download.
State Of The Artist play it nonchalant-like on their latest single, “Unfazed” (produced by Aaron The King). Catch SOTA opening for LA’s Dom Kennedy at the Showbox in the Market on April 14th.
VIDEO: “Rammin” – Nacho Picasso
The latest clip from Nacho Picasso. Get Lord of the Fly, here.
(News travels down hill: from Spin to The Stranger to your lowly bottom feeder, 206UP. The circle of blog life.)
DOWNLOAD: “Full Circle” (12″ single) – Source Of Labor
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Hip-hop historian and forever Seattle rap stan Jack Devo shared this on his excellent blog, Bring That Beat Back, about a week ago. “Full Circle” was the first single from Source of Labor’s (Word Sayer, Negus I and Vitamin D) only LP, Stolen Lives (2001). Click on over to BtBB for a lesson in Town rap genealogy and click here to download the single.
DOWNLOAD: Agony & Exstacy – Candidt
Click album cover to download.
Got a couple “from the vault”-type posts coming today. The first is this new/old drop from Candidt, Agony & Exstacy. Check for dude rapping over tracks by Vitamin D and Kuddie Fresh (before Kuddie was KUDDIE, you know what I mean). The history below:
After the smoke cleared from Candidt’s 1996 hood classic album “Dookiebraid Soul” he found himself at a crossroads. Main DBS producer M.A.S had gone to LA to produce, drummer Davey C was busy playing and touring with numerous bands and K. Boogie plain and simply hit a rough patch in his life. Candidt did not fret, he teamed up with legendary Seattle producer Vitamin D and up and coming producer and Cousin Kuddie Fresh and created “Agony & Exstasy.” A soulful, lyrical, polished, vibed-out, laser-tongued, head-nodding collection of hip hop many considered as yet another Candidt hood classic album. Written and recorded 1998-2000, many would say that A&E is the sound that really stamped a solid footprint in the world of music for Candidt. The entire album is now available for free download! Enjoy, share and vibe-out to Candidt’s “Agony & Exstasy.”
VIDEO: “Curtis Mayfield” – Second Family (dir. by Guad)
Tac-town shit from Element and Noquezt, known in assembly as Second Family. Get the crew’s latest, Gateway Drug, here.
DOWNLOAD: “Enchantruss” – THEESatisfaction
Photo via Three Imaginary Girls.
Here’s the new single from THEESatisfaction’s Awe Naturale, coming March 27 on Sub Pop.
(Thanks, Pitchfork.)
DOWNLOAD: “Never No” – J. Pinder (prod. by Kuddie Fresh)
Click image to D/L.
The first single from J. Pinder’s upcoming Careless, on Fin Records. Kuddie Fresh on the beat.
(Lifted from dirtedutch & firends.)
